Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALGLEZY’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALGLEZY’, particularly characterized by having unique white, shaded flowers, 1 to 2 peduncles that are long and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALGLEZY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALGLEZY’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous attractive and unique white, shaded flowers, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALGLEZY’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in March 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘22884-01’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘23015-02’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in April 2011. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 24, 2017. ‘PHALGLEZY’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALGLEZY’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) Unique white, shaded flowers;     -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is long and moderate; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week old plants in November 2018. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of ‘PHALGLEZY’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALGLEZY’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALGLEZY’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALGLEZY’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in November 2018 on flowering plants which were planted in 12 centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12 centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALGLEZY’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22884-01’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘23015-02’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (RHS 190B/C) colored roots             with branching lateral roots having slightly dark red and             green (RHS 187C and 146D) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24             weeks. After transplantation into 12 cm pots, the plants are             finished after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with             raceme to panicle inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 61.0 cm to 66.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 35.0 cm to 37.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 19.0 cm             to 21.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 10 degrees and 20 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS             147B. Texture (upper surface): Rough. Thickness: 2.2 mm to             2.5 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein:             Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—6 to 10.         -   Length.—61.0 cm to 66.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.1 mm to 5.5 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of green (RHS 146B) and brown (RHS 200C).         -   Internode length.—3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 170.0 mm to             220.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 92 0 mm to 97.0 mm. Diameter: 104.0 mm to             109.0 mm. Depth of lip:. 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 9 to 15 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Very large. Length: 28.0 mm to             30.0 mm. Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.             Color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145B/C) and reddish-purple             (RHS N78B).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length             (from base to tip): 48.0 mm to 50.0 mm. Width: 62.0 mm to             64.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic             color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Reddish-purple (RHS             N78C) at the base and light reddish-purple spots (RHS N78D).             Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color:             Light purple (RHS 76A).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse emarginated.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 51.0 mm to             53.0 mm. Width: 33.0 mm to 35.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light reddish-purple             (RHS N78D). Over color: White (RHS NN155C). Lower surface:             Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76A). Over color: Slightly             white edge (RHS NN155C).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 49.0 mm to             51.0 mm. Width: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76B).             Over color: Slightly light yellow-green (RHS 145C) with dark             red spots (RHS 183B) at the base; white (RHS NN155C). Lower             surface: Basic color: Very light purple (RHS 76B). Over             color: Purplish pink middle vein (RHS N78C).         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 19.0             mm to 21.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS NN155C).             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Undulated. Length: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 17.0             mm to 19.0 mm. Color: Slightly yellow (RHS 9A) with dark             red-purple stripes (RHS 183B and 184C) at the base; yellow             (RHS 9A) on one side; white (RHS NN155C) toward the tip.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 21.0             mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Color: Red (RHS             185A to 185B) and yellow (RHS 9C) at the base; white (RHS             NN155C) and dark red middle vein (RHS 183B).         -   Callus.—Average size: Large. Height: 7.0 mm to 8.0 mm.             Length: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 14A); dotted (RHS 183B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 5.8 mm to             6.3 mm. Color: Very light purple (RHS 76B) at the base;             white (RHS NN155C) toward the tip.         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm to             2.3 mm. Color: Light green (RHS 147C) and very light purple             (RHS 76C) toward the flower.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to             2.6 mm. Color: Slightly dark purple (RHS N77A) at the base             and green (RHS 147C) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALGLEZY’ differs from female parent plant ‘22884-01’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALGLEZY’ has flowers with a shaded pattern and columns that are very light purple at the base and white toward the tip, whereas ‘22884-01’ has flowers with a dotted pattern and columns that are white.

‘PHALGLEZY’ differs from male parent plant ‘23015-02’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALGLEZY’ has flowers with a shaded pattern, whereas ‘23015-02’ has flowers with a shaded and dotted pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALGLEZY’ has a larger plant height than ‘23015-02’.

‘PHALGLEZY’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALBANEHI’ (unpatented) and ‘PHALBYTFOL’ (unpatented). ‘PHALGLEZY’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALBANEHI’ in that ‘PHALGLEZY’ has oblong leaves, whereas ‘PHALBANEHI’ has narrow obovate leaves. Additionally, ‘PHALGLEZY’ has larger flowers, longer whiskers, and narrower dorsal sepals than ‘PHALBANEHI’.

‘PHALGLEZY’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALBYTFOL’ in that ‘PHALGLEZY’ has apical lobes having a main color of white, whereas ‘PHALBYTFOL’ has apical lobes having a main color of dark reddish-orange and reddish-purple. Additionally, ‘PHALGLEZY’ has larger flowers, longer whiskers, and wider dorsal sepals than ‘PHALBYTFOL’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGLEZY’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 